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cozysquib 's review for:
The Poppy War
by R.F. Kuang
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
I genuinely don’t know how to feel about this one.
The ending was... rough. Bleak. F***ed up in a way that leaves you sitting in silence after you close the book, just staring at the wall. It’s not a feel-good kind of story, and it definitely doesn’t try to be.
This book does not pull its punches. It’s heavy. Not just in the themes, but in the brutality, the political and social commentary, and the way it leans all the way into the horrors of war. It’s not subtle, and it’s not trying to entertain so much as force you to confront. I can respect that choice. But I can’t lie and say I enjoyed reading it.
The beginning was a slow burn for me. It takes a while to get going, and I had a hard time finding the hook early on. Once things finally start to happen, the pace picks up—but so does the emotional weight, and not in a way that felt especially balanced to me.
It’s not that the violence and trauma didn’t make sense in the story—they did. It fits the tone and message. But the depictions of cruelty, especially toward women and children, were just... too much. Too graphic. Too drawn out. I understand what Kuang was doing, but for me personally, it crossed the line from impactful into disturbing in a way that felt more alienating than effective.
This is a heavier fantasy. Not in the world-building or magic system, but in the sheer emotional toll. It feels very grounded in real-world history and real-world atrocities, and it doesn’t shy away from any of that. In a way, that makes it incredibly powerful. But it also made it a deeply uncomfortable read.
I haven’t decided yet if I’ll continue the series. I can see why people praise it—it’s well-written, unflinching, and bold. But I didn’t walk away feeling like I enjoyed it. I walked away feeling tired.
If you’re looking for something dark and intense with high stakes and serious themes, this might be exactly your thing. But if you’re a more sensitive reader, or you prefer your fantasy with a little more hope and a little less horror, consider this a warning label. It’s a brilliant book. It just might not be for everyone.
I genuinely don’t know how to feel about this one.
The ending was... rough. Bleak. F***ed up in a way that leaves you sitting in silence after you close the book, just staring at the wall. It’s not a feel-good kind of story, and it definitely doesn’t try to be.
This book does not pull its punches. It’s heavy. Not just in the themes, but in the brutality, the political and social commentary, and the way it leans all the way into the horrors of war. It’s not subtle, and it’s not trying to entertain so much as force you to confront. I can respect that choice. But I can’t lie and say I enjoyed reading it.
The beginning was a slow burn for me. It takes a while to get going, and I had a hard time finding the hook early on. Once things finally start to happen, the pace picks up—but so does the emotional weight, and not in a way that felt especially balanced to me.
It’s not that the violence and trauma didn’t make sense in the story—they did. It fits the tone and message. But the depictions of cruelty, especially toward women and children, were just... too much. Too graphic. Too drawn out. I understand what Kuang was doing, but for me personally, it crossed the line from impactful into disturbing in a way that felt more alienating than effective.
This is a heavier fantasy. Not in the world-building or magic system, but in the sheer emotional toll. It feels very grounded in real-world history and real-world atrocities, and it doesn’t shy away from any of that. In a way, that makes it incredibly powerful. But it also made it a deeply uncomfortable read.
I haven’t decided yet if I’ll continue the series. I can see why people praise it—it’s well-written, unflinching, and bold. But I didn’t walk away feeling like I enjoyed it. I walked away feeling tired.
If you’re looking for something dark and intense with high stakes and serious themes, this might be exactly your thing. But if you’re a more sensitive reader, or you prefer your fantasy with a little more hope and a little less horror, consider this a warning label. It’s a brilliant book. It just might not be for everyone.